Help with sound mixing software!

Steel Drummer · Thu 06/12/2007 01:14:11

Ok, I've been using Audacity for my sound mixing and recording for a long time and I've been happy with it... until now. Somehow, it was adjusted so that while recording a new track, it won't play the other tracks, however I need that function on so that I can hear the rhythm and play in time with everything else... I tried changing it back to the default 'play other tracks while recording' function, but when I try to apply it, my computer shuts down. This thing is acting really screwy... Can anyone either give me a possible solution to my problem, or offer an alternate program with basically the same functions?

Thank you!

Raggit · Thu 06/12/2007 01:35:19

Hmm, that's bizarre. What are your computer's stats? How much RAM? Also, what are Audacitie's requirements?

Steel Drummer · Thu 06/12/2007 01:39:47

I have a perfectly normal computer... too lazy to check its stats right now.

It was working just fine about 4 days ago, so my computer definitely met the minimum requirements...
Strangely enough, my computer only shuts down when I try to change the 'play while recording' option... but it hasn't done that before, it just started doing this yesterday. Also, for the 'playback' option, it's not currently using my sound card, but some sort of Microsoft/Windows output thing... Maybe that has something to do with it? When I tried changing it so it would use my sound card for playback, the PC shut down as well... I don't know why it's doing this, it's really making me mad. Are there any alternate programs that you could suggest I use?

Raggit · Thu 06/12/2007 01:45:58

Well, maybe there's a bug with Audacity and your soundcard and drivers. Maybe you could try uninstalling and reinstalling it?

But if you're looking for a new program, I highly recommend REAPER. It's free to try (last time I checked) and it's very powerful.

Also, if you're REALLY looking for a new program, and if you have cash to burn, you'd probably have a lot of fun with ProTools. I use it at college, and it's pretty nice, I guess. Takes a lot of system power, but can do all kinds of cool stuff. Beware, it's fussy with anything other than a Mac though.

Ishmael · Thu 06/12/2007 02:08:58

Something's wrong with your soundcard, is my guess. Reinstall the drives, and if it's a PCI card detach it and run a driver cleaner before you do so. If that doesn't fix it, concider getting a new program.

mouthuvmine · Thu 06/12/2007 05:50:24

Ooooo, yeah, that's gotta be fixed...LoL.

Is it possible that your MIDI is muted in windows Sound settings? That's sound's stupid, but it's happened to me before.

Oliwerko · Thu 06/12/2007 06:15:54

Well, if it is the only option, perhaps you could reinstall your computer completely. I mean, how long is it since you formatted your HDD, reinstalled your OS,... Things like these happen to me from time to time, and reinstalling is a good thing to do, since it really speeds things up and clears everything. But only if you have time :

Steel Drummer · Thu 06/12/2007 06:30:54

Quote from: Raggit on Thu 06/12/2007 01:45:58
Well, maybe there's a bug with Audacity and your soundcard and drivers. Maybe you could try uninstalling and reinstalling it?

But if you're looking for a new program, I highly recommend REAPER. It's free to try (last time I checked) and it's very powerful.

Also, if you're REALLY looking for a new program, and if you have cash to burn, you'd probably have a lot of fun with ProTools. I use it at college, and it's pretty nice, I guess. Takes a lot of system power, but can do all kinds of cool stuff. Beware, it's fussy with anything other than a Mac though.

Thanks for mentioning Reaper, downloaded it, and it works fine, no troubles, so I think something is wrong with Audacity, not my computer. Although Reaper is better for recording, I can still use Audacity to clean up songs and add some effects without it totally screwing up, so it works for me.

Thanks!

Evil · Thu 06/12/2007 06:33:17

Audacity is still on beta, I think. Or at least it's newly released. You could always try downloading an older version. I use 1.3 Beta Unicode and it works fine.

EldKatt · Thu 06/12/2007 09:21:47

What are your overall system specs, including PSU? If you have a sort of high-end-ish system and your PSU is at the edge of its capacity, I guess the additional stress (full-duplex rather than half, or RAM use or something because of the additional tracks) might cause it to give up.

I might be totally off, but in any case I think having your specs would help us all.

Edit: Oh. I missed that "thanks, all is well" post. Don't mind this.

Raggit · Thu 06/12/2007 14:46:35

Quote from: Steel Drummer on Thu 06/12/2007 06:30:54
Quote from: Raggit on Thu 06/12/2007 01:45:58
Well, maybe there's a bug with Audacity and your soundcard and drivers. Maybe you could try uninstalling and reinstalling it?

But if you're looking for a new program, I highly recommend REAPER. It's free to try (last time I checked) and it's very powerful.

Also, if you're REALLY looking for a new program, and if you have cash to burn, you'd probably have a lot of fun with ProTools. I use it at college, and it's pretty nice, I guess. Takes a lot of system power, but can do all kinds of cool stuff. Beware, it's fussy with anything other than a Mac though.

Thanks for mentioning Reaper, downloaded it, and it works fine, no troubles, so I think something is wrong with Audacity, not my computer. Although Reaper is better for recording, I can still use Audacity to clean up songs and add some effects without it totally screwing up, so it works for me.

Thanks!

Cool, glad you like it. And check out all those color themes!!1